In the interview,James made a reference to football player Colin Kaepernick, whose kneeling protests launched an NFL movement and NBA star Stephen Curry, who last year said he would not visit the White House after the Golden State Warriors won the championship, prompting the President to disinvite him.

James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers after playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and recently opened a public school his charitable foundation helped build in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.